I must reinforce in the strongest terms that there is no pressure from college administration to pass students who do not meet the learning outcomes of Langara courses.

We make great efforts to ensure that students we admit are prepared for the high academic standards of our courses and programs. Langara has some of the highest English language admission requirements among B.C.’s post-secondary institutions. Those who gain admission must also write the Langara English Test to determine which English courses would be best for them.

I also contest assertions that domestic students are disadvantaged. We believe diversity of our classrooms strengthens the educational experience for all students.

We take great pride in welcoming all students to our community and supporting them to achieve the standards required to be successful in careers or further study.

Ian Humphreys, provost and vice-president academic and students, Langara College

Underfunding is to blame

I want to commend Doug Todd for highlighting several of the challenges currently facing higher education in B.C., even if the article ultimately did so somewhat unwittingly.

Todd rightly points out that B.C. post-secondary institutions are dependent on international students, who pay dramatically higher fees than domestic students, to balance their budgets. But he fails to note the root of this problem — underfunding.

He accurately states that instructors fear failing students because their jobs are at risk, but doesn’t point out that this is because instructors have been made precarious by a dramatic turn in institutions toward short-term “sessional” work, which means many instructors have to worry that they will not have work the next semester unless they deliver specific results.

A system that hired them to full-time permanent positions would empower them to be the academic stewards Todd suggests they should be.

The cause of these issues is not international students but the policies constructed by government and higher-education institutions.

Dale McCartney, PhD candidate, University of B.C.

Attention is what racists crave

Three cheers for columnist Gordon Clark’s recommendation that we turn our collective backs on the racist rally in Vancouver. Ignoring the hate-driven speechifying of the neo-Nazis, refusing to print their pictures, and in essence freezing them out of the media frame altogether would surely defeat their purpose much more effectively than showing up to confront them.

By covering their event the media is giving them a form of credibility. They don’t deserve the glory of having their pictures published (unless they’re still at large). Since when do readers need to hear from these snakes about civilized life?

Give the knuckle-tattooed airheads the attention they warrant: None.

Harry Langen, Vancouver

Wilson should consider public reaction to lawsuit

So former B.C. Liberal leader Gordon Wilson has decided an apology isn’t enough and that he is going to sue Premier John Horgan and the provincial government.

As a former provincial politician, I would have thought he would have thought carefully about costing taxpayers a not-insignificant amount of money because, make no mistake, it is taxpayers who are going to foot the bill.

He should think carefully about how this makes him look.

Jane McCall, Delta

Winning opioid fight?

The arrest of four men and the seizure of drugs and weapons can give us all hope that there is progress in the fight to end the opioid crisis. The disturbing issue is the age of the four arrested: 21, 22, 23 and 25.

Are those arrested hardened criminals or young men still living at home or fresh from home? Do their parents and family members not wonder how these young men can live beyond their means? Is the pretension of doing well all that matters to some?

It is unfortunate that these four will not be charged in the deaths of the hundreds that their crime has contributed to.

Do you have an opinion about something we’ve published or an issue in the news? We’d like to hear from you. Email: sunletters@vancouversun.com. Letters must contain the author’s name, the community where you live and a daytime telephone number. Maximum length is 200 words; shorter is better. The Vancouver Sun reserves the right to edit, condense or reject any contribution. We do not publish open letters to third parties.

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